ECOP and several industry associations entered into an agreement with the Department of Education. The parties have recognized the urgent need to arrest, if not altogether solve, the country’s unemployment problem and to provide ways and means to enable less privileged citizens and workers, including workers with lack of educational attainment, to find gainful employment. ECOP agreed to encourage its members, and to implement programs to encourage and influence their members, to accept for employment, applicants who have completed the new twelve-year Basic Education Program form any private or public school in the Philippines; without prejudice, however, to requiring other appropriate qualifications.